the controversial head of the us environmental protection agency, scott pruitt, has resigned. he faces at least eight dozen investigations into his spending habits and alleged abuse of office. president trump said he has done an outstanding job. in the next few hours, the us is set to begin imposing tariffs of 25% on $34 billion worth of chinese exports, including industrial machinery and medical devices. china has hit back with tariffs on american —— agricultural produce. rescuers in thailand are stepping up their efforts to get be trapped boys out of the cave before the weather closes in. houses of litres of water have been pumped out of the cave, ringing the flood doubles down, at the window of opportunity for rescue is not expected to last long. —— bringing the flood levels down. it's looking increasingly likely that interest rates will rise next month after the bank of england governor said he has more confidence in the uk economy. mark carney says household spending had "bounced back strongly," after a slump in growth caused by the bad winter weather. our economics editor kamal ahmed reports.

i'm delighted to welcome to the stage the governor of the bank of england, mark carney. in good spirits, a more upbeat message on the economy. the data since may have given me greater confidence that the softness in the uk activity in the first quarter was largely due to the weather, not the climate. a number of indicators of household spending and sentiment have bounced back strongly. governor, given the bounce back in the economy that you have outlined today, should people be preparing for an interest—rate rise sooner rather than later, and certainly this year? i would say 75% survey evidence of households think that interest rates will rise because of the next year. there are expectations are that interest rates will drop a bit

but not that much. he knows that brexit is weighing on economic competence and his audience knows it, too. yvonne gale invests in local firms, many of which export to the eu. to boost the economy, we need more ambition and a willingness to take on risks. but the problem with the whole brexit question and where we will end up is that it suppresses people's update to take risks. bigger companies are facing similar challenges. jaguar land rover are warning that potential trade barriers could cost it over $1 billion a year. today the government was trying to reassure. that requires the ability to avoid frictions at the border where parts come backwards and forwards to make sure that we can export to other european union countries without tariffs and without frictions. the message from newcastle: business wants to be listened to, and wants and has to this key question: how close will britain and the eu be after brexit? the answer could well

be very close indeed. now on bbc news, the travel show. this week on the show: i'm in bulgaria to get an exclusive look inside one of the most extraordinary abandoned buildings in the world. dora, it's... it's incredible. i discover an unusual way to go shopping in sofia. i'll take blue. and uncover treasures near the black sea coast. 0h! we are starting off this week in bulgaria's

beautiful capital, sofia. this vibrant european city is the perfect place for a break, laid—back, affordable, and picturesque. with its roman, byzantine, and ottoman sites, it's packed with culture and history. but for much of the 20th century, bulgaria was part of the eastern bloc, and under communist rule. as you walk the streets, you can find reminders of the communist era everywhere. one of the strangest is found at your feet. all across sofia there are shops called kleks sunk beneath pavement level. so these shops might seem really odd now seeing as they are close to the ground, but it is an interesting history. they were basements and bomb shelters. after the fall of communism, people needed to get resourceful. there was not much money

going around and people had to use their basements to sell thigns. i'll grab some mnms! it drops down another 2—3 metres there. he's got another step to step up to see me. blue or... i'll take blue! after the iron curtain fell, kleks were some of the first private businesses in bulgaria, symbolising the country's move towards capitalism. recently, kleks have taken a modern twist, and many have become art galleries, restaurants, and even speak—easys. sl is a speak—easy bar in one of sofia's characteristic bomb shelter basements. you can see the thick walls because these are the remains and the basement is as it is. 0k, 0k, ok, this is cool.

this is a typical bulgarian drink? yes, rakia is a very, very common drink in our region. but we want to have it in another usage, let's say, we want to have it in a cocktail. well, then sign me up for one rakia cocktail please. enjoy. the perfect combination has tomato juice and spices. wow! oh, that's nice. there is an ongoing debate about how to make bulgaria's communist era buildings relevant for the 20th century. —— 21st century. and today, i'm travelling to the centre of bulgaria to a place

that's lain forgotten for decades that could become one of the most popular tourists draws in the entire country. with me is dora ivanova, an architect. she's an expert on the site. i'm excited. it has been a long time i have wanted to come here. wow, it's massive, isn't it? at 70 metres high and 60 metres wide, buzludzha looks out over the balkan mountains. completed in 1981, it was built as an iconic national monument to glorify the communist party. it's here because this was the birthplace of the bulgarian socialist movement. this is powerful, powerful architecture. following the collapse of the regime, the building was abandoned, and later shut off to the public as it fell into disrepair. recently, the only people to have seen inside are a select group of photo—hungry urban explorers

who have broken in illegally. this is a really big deal today. the travel show is the first international tv crew to be allowed through the front doors. we are very excited and lucky to be able to do so. are you ready? oh, wow! here it is. me first? welcome. it's seen better days, hasn't it? definitely. it cost the equivalent of $35 million in today's money to build buzludzha. since it was abandoned, the years, they haven't been kind. dora, it's... it's incredible. there's some work to do, obviously, but it's still very impressive. look at this. 50 square metres of mosaic inscribed on top. there is the symbol of communism, actually, the hammer and sickle, you can see the workers below it.

so there is a mosaic on the ceiling, but the entire perimeter is also covered in a mosaic. we have actually more than a thousand square metres of mosaic inside buzludzha. out of all of these, which one is your favourite? over there, the people defeating a dragon. and the dragon represents capitalism, the monarchy, and fascism, all the enemies, and it's defeated by the communist people. when the monument opened, thousands came from all over the country to marvel at its beauty. there were sound and light shows and talks from well—known communist artists and poets. one person who remembers that time well is bedros azinyan. he and his father were the official photographers for the building. bedros, you were here and you saw

this room and this building at its best. what was that like? really, all that's left is mosaics and the mosaic on the ceiling. here and here are the rest. all of this white is now gone. and what do you feel seeing what it has become? time could be running out for buzludzha. if the roof collapses, the walls will go too, and the building will be lost. there is now an urgent debate about what exactly to do with the monument. those who remember the repression and hardships of the communist era would like to see it destroyed. others want it restored to its former glory. but dora is working on a proposal to preserve it as a museum to discuss the past. it was built to represent and glorify the communist idea. we do not want to do that nowadays. we just want to know the history and to understand why it was built. but, if we keep it intact and leave the symbols in their present

condition, i think it will be much more powerful and meaningful for the next generation to understand. there is now an urgent debate about what exactly to do with the monument. those who remember the repression and hardships of the communist era would like to see it destroyed. others want it restored to its former glory. but dora is working on a proposal to preserve it as a museum to discuss the past. it was built to represent and glorify the communist idea. we do not want to do that nowadays. we just want to know the history and to understand why it was built. but, if we keep it intact and leave the symbols in their present condition, i think it will be much more powerful and meaningful for the next generation to understand. it'll be a symbol of much more than what it was. communism was a symbol of bulgaria and the ups

and downs and rollercoasters of bulgaria and what it went through. there is no doubt it is a powerful, controversial, and iconic building, and so it feels worthy of preservation in whatever form for me. but ultimately it is down to bulgaria itself to decide how it remembers its past going into the future. sofia has some great, fancy restaurants, but if you're looking for something more close to home, this is the spot for you. this is the outskirts of sofia. she has been serving traditional bulgarian food for over 30 years. it is like grandma's kitchen in here. if there was one dish that everyone visiting bulgaria should try, what is the dish? sign me up.

that sounds amazing. i will get one pacha. pacha is served all year round, hot in the winter and cold in the summer. and here it is. it looks like... it looks like ice cream. it's extremely rubbery. so... it is quite chewy with mystery crunches in the middle, and very garlicky, but melts in your mouth. it is actually kind of good. still to come on the show. simon's here with tips on copenhagen on a budget and how to find the best beach breaks in croatia.

and i head to the black sea to meet a team making some amazing underwater discoveries. so stick with us for that. there we go. if you are travelling to bulgaria, here's one tip for getting around. hey! can you take me to central station, please? so, one thing that's very important to know in bulgaria is this flick of the head, it means yes, and this means no. it's a little confusing, but a must—know tip if you come here. let's do it! welcome to the slice of the show that tackles your questions about getting the best out of travel. coming up, my advice

on coastal croatia, and cheap stays in copenhagen. but first, if you're planning to drive in france this summer, be warned that on 400,000 kilometres of secondary roads, the speed limit is being cut from 90 to 80 kilometres an hour. there is no grace period, so from thejuly i, fines are being imposed. someone has to pay for all the new signs. next, robert coomber is taking his family to croatia for the first time this summer. he asks... of all croatia's fine coastal cities, my favourite is split. metropolitan life thrives amid the ruins of the fourth century palace of the roman emperor diocletian. split has a perfectly good city beach, but if you want to be a little quieter, head for the islands.

an hour offshore by ferry, the island of solta is picturesque and charming. and at the end of your stay in split, take a trip to the port of trogir, from where it is just five minutes by road to the airport. next, owen peek has been invited to a wedding in new york, and he wants to combine it with a trip to havana. but, he says... i have since seen myriad confusing advice about travel between the two countries that have had historically frosty relations. we are uk citizens and appears to be regular flights, and all of the rules i've seen so far suggests that you cannot travel from the us to cuba for tourism, even if we are not us citizens. owen, your confusion is understandable because the rules on flights between the us and cuba keep changing. until one year ago, many individual tourists could fly from america to cuba on what was called a "people to people" basis. that has now stopped

and if you are a person subject to usjurisdiction — which you are if you are a foreign visitor in america — you are not allowed to routinely use those flights. but fortunately that rule only applies going from the us to cuba. so i would suggest that you fly out to havana, then to new york, then back home, and you should not encounter any problem. now here's a question from philip gilliam. we are a family of three going to denmark in august. the accommodation seems to be a bit of a nightmare. it seems very expensive in copenhagen, so i was wondering if you could help us, please. we are struggling to get anywhere at a reasonable price. accommodation prices in the danish capital are challenging. i reckon for corresponding properties in other european cities, you typically pay 50% more to stay in copenhagen. happily, the youth hostel network offers a lower rate and high standards.

in general, the further you go from the city centre, the lower the coast. you might also want to consider spending some of your time across the bridge in malmo, in southern sweden, where, in my experience, hotel prices are significantly lower than copenhagen. if i can help you with your travel enquiries, please get in touch. just e—mail thetravelshow@bbc.com. i will do my very best to find you an answer. from me, simon calder, the global guru, bye for now and see you next time. welcome to varna on the bulgaria's beautiful black sea coast. this is the bulgaria's summer playground. but besides enjoying the beach, if you are a little bit more adventurous, you can go beneath the surface and discover what is hiding.

we're meeting a group of divers here today and they're taking us out on the boat. hey! nice to meet you. you too, you too. welcome on board. happy to be here. today i'm heading out with diver svetlo ivanov and his team. he's promised to show me a shipwreck just a few miles off the coast. the black sea got its name not from its colour but by its reputation for being a very dangerous sea to cross. below us there is an uncountable number of ship wrecks, and that's a draw for divers and tourists from around the world. svetlo and this fishing boat actually have a special connection with the wreck. today we are going on a ship which was discovered six years ago and it was discovered by accident. this fishing boat brought back with the nets. the boat that we are on now,

it was fishing, the nets snagged, and they found the shipwreck we are going to. yeah. we went down there and we found it. the water here in the black sea can be very cold, so a thick wetsuit is vital. it's a magical experience descending down and suddenly seeing the shipwreck appearing. this particular ship is a cargo ship called the swift. it is thought that it was british made in 1884 and sank in unknown circumstances in 1933. ships in the black sea are far better preserved than in other seas like the mediterranean.

the black sea is actually more like an enormous lake that funnels into the mediterranean through the bosphorus, creating conditions that keep the wrecks intact. it is incredible down there. you first go under and you see all these incredible moonjellies, the white jellyfish, just floating around you. and that is all you see for about the first minute as you are pulling yourself down along the line. and then all of a sudden the shipwreck looms out of the green depths. but it was incredible down there. there are countless shipwrecks to explore along the black sea coast. mostly they are from the last 100 years or so. but i have arranged to meet a group of bulgarian underwater archaeologists who are making some

ground—breaking discoveries that are farfar older. nayden prahov is part of the centre of underwater archaeology in bulgaria. they have been working all across the black sea, but today they are planning to explore a site at the bottom of lake varna, just inland. diving in bulgaria, i did not picture it being just next to this, here. so what brings us to this particular location today? for most of the divers, it will not be a perfect site to dive — exciting, interesting, attractive — but for us, it will be beautiful. it is thought that in this unlikely location was a bronze age settlement. today, the team is looking for evidence. the diversjump in, they give the ok symbol, they get handed the dive flags to make sure that no boats close to them. like nayden said, it is his first time on this site. i know the feeling of being on a site the first time when you do not know exactly what you are going to find, especially in a situation like this, where they are looking for a rtefa cts,

thousands of years old. the team here, together with the centre for maritime archaeology at the university of southampton, and experts from across the world, have recently made some groundbreaking discoveries thousands of metres under the sea. they have uncovered what is thought to be the world's biggest cache of artefacts from greek, roman, ottoman and byzantine periods. thanks to the conditions here, incredible details have been preserved, even coils of rope. it goes to showjust how important the black sea has been for seafaring over the ages. after almost an hour underwater, the divers resurface. they have found something special. wow. so we have... bone. this is like rock, though. this is really old. maybe bronze age, early bronze age. but we found big posts, some 30 centimetres in diameter. which means people did live

here in the bronze age. yes. that is a big find, then. we were not sure if we would find something and i was so happy when i saw this wooden posts protruding from the silt, from the mud. i just can't get over the fact that right next to trash there is all of this treasure just hidden from the eye. just a few metres down. you are only down four metres. and there are all these things from the bronze age just laying around. it is amazing. not many finds, but significant finds. yeah! some of the team's other findings are shown museums along the black sea coast. we are just arriving back to shore. when i woke up this morning i did not think i would be able to hold something that normally belongs in a museum in my hands. that is it for this week, but next week we have a food fiesta for you asjo tries her best to beat

the italians at their own game at a pizza eating contest in naples. and ade goes vegan in london for a day. this is good. a tour bus around london eating food that will help us live forever. so try to catch that again if you can. a reminder that you can follow us on social media. but from me and the team here bulgaria, goodbye. well, i'm sure you will know what i'm going to say,

we're in for a hot and sunny day, no changes to our weather. in fact, the weekend is looking particularly hot across england, temperatures expected to rise. i will say, though, there is a chance of one or two storms across south—eastern parts of the country on friday, or at least a big downpours. we had that on thursday, tunbridge wells with some flash flooding. there's a lot of clear whether across the country now, no widespread cloud rain or anything like that but the heat is so intense that it has been sparking off some showers. this is a picture from thursday from east sussex where we had some downpours and we could see further downpours around sussex in kent and maybe even greater london a bit later on friday afternoon. in the short—term, early hours of friday look fairly quiet across the uk, no rain out there. temperatures on the muggy side, 17, the starting temperature in london. 13 in newcastle. a bit fresher in rural parts of scotland. as we head through friday morning, into the afternoon, it's basically sunny.

a bit of fair weather cloud developing so it may not be clear blue skies but sunny enough and those temperatures will peak at around 30 degrees in london. we had 30 on thursday, we will get that probably on friday. to the north of that, comfortably warm. the low to mid—20s and those showers around kent and sussex at some point in the day. through the weekend, familiar pattern. weather systems away to the north of us, there could be a frontjust about sneaking into wester, north—western parts of scotland later on in the weekend, probably sunday, but still a while away. here's saturday, lots of clear weather around in the morning, lots of sunshine in the afternoon. temperatures will be skyrocketing across the south, posibly up to 30 or 31. 30 is not of question in the midlands too and in the north of the country, northern ireland and also scotland, temperatures up into the mid—20s as well. come sunday, the heat continues to build across many parts of the uk. notice the cold front,

a weak cold front, it means a bit of cloud, some spots of rain, you see the yellow colours so a lot fresher for our friends in the outer hebrides and the western isles, maybe around 16, cool north atlantic air but the heat is very much present across many parts of england and wales. so, hot sunday on the way and beyond that, guess what? there's little change. the heatwave continues throughout much of next week with temperatures expected to remain on the high side. welcome to bbc news. broadcasting to viewers in north america and around the globe. my name is lebo diseko. our top stories: the controversial head of the us environmental protection agency quits afterjust five months. scott pruitt‘s facing at least a dozen investigations into his conduct. moving towards a trade war? a wide range of chinese exports will be hit by donald trump's 25% tariffs from today. japanese media say seven mebers of a cult including its leader have

been executed for carrying out a sarin attack in 1995. a dangerous time for rescuers and the trapped voice of. one of the